Arm rest device for toilets



June 6, 1967 B. FERRIS, JR 3,323,144

ARM REST DEVICE FOR TOILETS Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. fir/M? A iii/ IS I BY 52-722 Irv-aims:

United States Patent Cfiiice 3,323,144 Patented June 6, 1967 3,323,144ARM REST DEVICE FOR TOILETS Frank B. Ferris, Jr., 1128 N. 8th St,Colton, Calif. 92324 Filed Dec. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 333,835 4 Claims.(c1. 4 254 This invention relates to an arm rest device for toilets andmore particularly to such a device which may be readily attached to atoilet and which is adjustable in such a manner that it will not onlyprovide comfort for a person using a toilet, but will also serve as asafety measure for small children using a toilet and as an aid inhelping a person to sit upon and arise from the toilet.

In hospitals and about the home, people who have been ill or who needhelp in sitting down and then rising again on account of age or physicalcondition have difiiculty using a conventional toilet because there isusually nothing on or near the toilet which can be grasped by such aperson for support and assistance in sitting down and getting up.

. n addition, infants being trained to use a toilet for the first timeusually have the feeling of insecurity because there is nothing on ornear the toilet which they can cling to for support.

Also, small children, even though accustomed to using a toilet, Whileclimbing up onto or down from a toilet are in danger of slipping andfalling.

Some bathrooms are provided with reading material near the toilet forthe convenience of people who like to read while using the toilet. It israther dilficult, however, to find a restful position for a persons armswhile holding a book at such times.

Because of the fragile nature of the toilet bowl and the shape thereof,many problems are encountered in attaching a useful appliance to atoilet bowl. For this reason, devices are not presently available whichmay be readily attached to a toilet bowl for the comfort and convenienceof people using the toilet.

In recent years, attempts have been made to enhance the appearance oftoilets by coloring the vitrous enamel from which the toilet is formed.Also, the lid of the toilet seat is sometimes fitted with a decorativecover to enhance the appearance of the toilet. Other than this, though,devices having both a functional utility and the function of enhancingthe appearance of a toilet are not used because of the difficulty ofattaching such devices to a toilet.

In view of the foregoing problems encountered in connection with usingtoilets and the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic oftoilet bowls, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea new and useful arm rest device for toilets which overcomes theproblems, and which is not subject to the disadvantages, enumeratedabove.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustablearm rest for a toilet which may be readily attached to the rim of atoilet bowl in a convenient position for assisting people in sittingupon and arising from a toilet.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pair of armrests for a toilet which will enhance the appearance of the toilet.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pair ofadjustable arm rests for a toilet which may be readily clamped to therim of a .toilet by suitable clamping means having resilient pads whichwill not damage the toilet bowl to which the arm rests are attached.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pair ofattractive arm rests for a toilet which enhance its appearance and whichmay be adjusted laterally and vertically to provide both comfort andassistance to people of various sizes using the same toilet.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a new and usefuldevice for assisting people .to sit upon and arise from a toilet.

In accordance with the present invention, a conventional toilet having avitrous, enamel rim may be fitted with a single, adjustable arm restdevice which clamps to the rim for assisting people in sitting upon andarising from the toilet. A second arm rest device may also be employedas an additional measure of assistance.

When two arm rest devices are employed, they may be adjusted to the sameheight for the comfort of a persons arms While using the toilet or theymay each be adjusted to a different height so that a lower arm rest maybe employed to assist a person in arising from the toilet and a higherarm rest may be employed to steady the person during movement about thetoilet area.

Each toilet arm rest device includes a pair of clamps having resilentpads which grip the rim and bowl of the toilet when the arm rest is inposition thereon. In addition, a telescopic connection is made betweeneach clamp and a tubular upright member so that each arm rest device canbe adjusted laterally to vary the width between the rim on the toiletand the arm rest portion of the device. In addition, the upright membertelescopically engages the telescopic connection on the clamp so thatthe arm rest device can be adjusted vertically. A suitable arm restmember may be employed on top of the tubular member. The arm rest membermay be made of any suitable material, such as wood, which enhances. theappearance of the device. The arm rest member may be attached to thetubular member by a T-shaped member having a threaded shaft and a flatcross bar which includes a pair of apertures. Screws may pass throughthe apertures and secure the cross bar to the wooden member and thethreaded portion may pass through a suitable aperture in the tubularmember and be secured thereto by nut and lock washer means.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as .to its organization and manner of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to like elements.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of arm rest devices of the thereto;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of one of the armrest devices of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial, cross-sectional view takensubstantially along line 3-3 of FllGURE 1 with the lid of the toiletbeing shown in a raised position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional View taken along line4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

of a toilet with a pair present invention secured FIGURE 5 is anenlarged, partial cross-sectional view of one of the clamps of the armsrest of FIGURE 1.

Referring again to the drawings an arm rest device consisting apresently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated10, is shown in position on each side of a toilet 12.

The toilet 12 may be of any conventional type having a base portion 14,a bowl 16, and a rim 1%. A seat member 20, having a lid 22 may beattached to the apron 24 of toilet 12 by hinges 26 so that the lid 22may be moved from the closed position shown in FIGURE 1 to the openposition shown in FIGURE 3. The toilet 12 also includes a conventionalwater storage tank 28.

Each arm rest device may be secured to the rim 18 of toilet 12 by a pairof C-clamps 30. Each clamp 30 includes an L-shaped member 32 having arelatively flat portion 34 and a curved, bight portion 36. A boss 38 isprovided on the end of the fiat portion 32 at its end remote from thecurved portion 36.

A resilient pad 49 (FIGURE 5) may be affixed to the under side 42 ofeach L-shaped member 32 to protect the toilet 12 from damage when thearm rest device 10 is attached thereto. The arm rest device 111 isattached to the toilet 12 by engaging the upper surface 44- of rim 13with the clamp 36 in such a manner that the fiat portion 34 extendshorizontally across the upper surface 44 of the rim 18 and so that thecurved, bight portion 36 curves around the inner surface 46 of rim 18into engagement with the inner surface 48 of bowl 16. The resilient pad40 cushions the L-shaped member 32 so that it will not damage the toilet12. The L-shaped member 32 is firmly clamped against the rim 18 and thebowl 16 by a threaded bolt or cap screw 50 having a wrench engaging head52 and external threads 54. Each cap screw 50 threadedly engages aninternally threaded aperture 56 provided in a bolt supporting member 58on each clamp 30. Each bolt supporting member 58 is attached to theunder side 42 of its associated L-shaped member 32 adjacent the boss 38by a suitable weldment 60. After each clamp 30 is placed upon the toiletrim 18, the associated bolts 50 of the clamps 30 may be tightened intoengagement with a resilient pad 62 which bears against the outer surface64 of bowl 16. Sufficient space may be maintained between each bightportion 36 and an associated bolt supporting portion 58 so that the boltsupporting portions 58 will not contact the rim 18 when the bolt 50 istightened sufficiently to bring the bight portion 36 into firmengagement with the inner surface 46 of rim 18 and the inner surface 48of bowl 16.

Each boss 38 supports a cylindrical rod 66 having a smaller diameterthan its associated boss. An L-shaped fitting 68 having the same outsidediameter as its associated boss 38 is provided with an internal bore 7 0which is slidably engageable with an associated rod 66 forming a slipjoint therewith. A set screw 72 may be employed to maintain each fitting68 in a predetermined position upon its associated rod 66 by beingthreaded into engagement therewith. The rods 66 are of a suitable lengthso that each arm rest device 10 may be adjusted laterally to increase,or decrease as the case may be, the space between the arm rest devices10 when they are in position on the toilet 12. Each fitting 68 includesan upstanding rod 74 which engages a bore 76 provided in the ends 73 ofan inverted, U-shaped member 80. Each member 80 includes spaced-apartlegs 82 and a bight portion 84 having the same diameter as theassociated fittings 68 and the bosses 38. The height or elevation of thebight portion 84 may be adjusted by sliding the legs 82 with respect tothe upright rods 74. A set screw 36 is provided in each end 78 and maybe threaded into engagement with an associated rod 74 to maintain thebight portions 84 at a predetermined elevation. The uniform diameters ofthe bosses 38, the fittings 68 and the member 80 enhances the appearanceof each arm rest device 10 when the clamps 30,

the fittings 68 and the member are telescoped together as shown inFIGURES 3 and 5.

Each bight portion 84 is fitted with a suitable arm rest which may bemade of wood or other suitable decorative material. Each arm rest 96 isattached to its associated bight portion 34 by a pair of T-shapedfittings 92 having fiat cross bars 94 and externally threaded stems 96.A plurality of apertures 98 are provided in each cross bar 94 and areengageable by wood screws 1% which may be employed to firmly attach thefittings 92 to the arm rest 96. The stem portions 96 engages apertures102 provided in bight portion 84, and are, in turn, engageable by lockwasher 104 and a nut 166 which may be tightened to firmly clamp each armrest 90 to its associated member 80. Each arm rest 91 may be providedwith suitable recesses, such as the one shown at 108 in FIGURE 4, forreception of an associated cross bar 94. The cross bars 94 may berecessed in this manner so that the arm rests 90 will contact theirbight portions 84 thereby enhanving the appearance of the devices 10.

As will be seen in FIGURE 5, the conventional pad 110 on seat 20maintains it in suitable spaced relation above the upper face 44 of rim18 so that the clamp 30 fits conveniently between the seat 20 and therim 18.

In use, a single arm rest device 10 may be attached to a toilet 12 toassist a person in sitting upon and arising from the toilet. The heightof the arm rest 90 may be increased from that shOWn in FIGURE 1 byloosening the set screws 86 and sliding the member 80 upwardly on rods74, whereupon the screws 86 may be tightened.

If desired, a pair of arm rest devices 10 may be attached to toilet 12,as shown in FIGURE 1. Both arm rest devices 10 may be adjusted to thesame height for the convenience and comfort of a person using the toilet12. On the other hand, one arm rest device 10 may be adjusted to itslowermost position and the other arm rest 10 may be adjusted to itsuppermost position so that an aged or infirm person can grasp the armrests 90 selectively and progressively during the process of sittingupon and arising from the toilet 12.

While the particular arm rest device herein shown and described indetail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing theadvantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merelyillustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention andthat no limitations are intended to the details of construction ordesign herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An arm rest device for a toilet including a rim having an uppersurface and an inner surface and a bowl having an inner surface and anouter surface, said arm rest device comprising:

(a) a pair of clamps, each of said clamps including an L-shaped portionhaving a relatively fiat member for extending horizontally across saidupper surface of said rim and a curved bight portion for engaging saidinner surface of said rim and said inner surface of said bowl, saidclamp also including a support member supporting a bolt in threadedengagement therewith, said bolt being adapted to be threaded intoengagement with said outer surface of said bowl to firmly clamp saidinner surface of said rim and said inner surface of said bowl betweensaid bolt and said bight portion;

(b) a first rod member extending from the end of each of said flatportions remote from said bight portion;

(c) an L-shaped fitting having a first end slidably engaging said firstrod member and having a second end forming a second rod member normal tosaid first end;

(d) a U-shaped member having upright legs provided with bores at one endand a horizontal bight portion joining the other ends of said legs, eachof said bores slidably engaging one of said second rod members; and

(e) an arm rest affixed to said bight portion of said U-shaped member.

2. An article of manufacture forming an arm rest for a toilet bowlhaving an upper rim and a hinged seat member comprising in combination,arm rest means comprising upright means having a part positioned to beclamped to the rim of the toilet bowl with the upright means spacedlaterally from the rim, said part having clamping means including arelatively flat part shaped to extend inwardly between the bowl rim andthe seat member and to the inside of the rim, whereby the seat membercan be raised and lowered with the arm rest in position, and said armrest means comprising a pair of uprights, each having one of said partsand one of said clamping means attachable to the rim of the toilet bowl.

3. A structure as in claim 2 wherein said uprights are connected andmeans for adjusting the uprights laterally and vertically with respectto the said rim.

4. A structure as in claim 3 comprising a pair of said arm rests eachadapted for clamping to one side of the toilet bowl.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNE D. GEIGER, PrimaryExaminer. H. J. GROSS, Assistant Examiner.

2. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE FORMING AN ARM REST FOR A TOILET BOWLHAVING AN UPPER RIM AND A HINGED SEAT MEMBER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION,ARM REST MEANS COMPRISING UPRIGHT MEANS HAVING A PART POSITIONED TO BECLAMPED TO THE RIM OF THE TOILET BOWL WITH THE UPRIGHT MEANS SPACEDLATERALLY FROM THE RIM, SAID PART HAVING CLAMPING MEANS INCLUDING ARELATIVELY FLAT PART SHAPED TO EXTEND INWARDLY BETWEEN THE BOWL RIM ANDTHE SEAT MEMBER AND TO THE INSIDE OF THE RIM, WHEREBY THE SEAT MEMBERCAN BE RAISED AND LOWERED WITH THE ARM REST IN POSITION, AND SAID ARMREST MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF UPRIGHTS, EACH HAVING ONE OF SAID PARTSAND ONE OF SAID CLAMPING MEANS ATTACHABLE TO THE RIM OF THE TOILET BOWL.